Liverpool FC Forum

by **kazza** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:20 pm

Bretc wrote:
Dundalk wrote:Babel needs to buck up

Rafa Benitez fired a blunt message to Ryan Babel yesterday, warning him time is running out to salvage his Liverpool future after his £11.5million move from Ajax two years ago.

Ahead of Monday's home game with Aston Villa, Benitez said: 'Ryan has to give something to us this time and he knows it. He will have opportunities to prove himself with so many games coming up, but it is important he has the right mentality.

'Maybe there were some problems adapting to a new style when he arrived as a young player.

'He knows what is going on here now and hopefully can perform better. He accepts he has to perform at a different level this year.'

Will we ever see this guy perform at the level we expected when we signed him?

I guess this is the last chance for Babel. Rafa's message is very clear - shape up or ship out and I totally agree with Rafa. I dun blame Rafa for going public as I believe he has tried all means to kick Babel into action but failed. This is his last resort and hopefully will serve as an effective kick up Babel's !

Babel has been given chances to impress but has disappointed many times. If he still does not wake up after this final warning, then he certainly deserves to go.

I am never one to attack Liverpool players, but that sounds about right. From a personal point of view, if a player does not show 100% desire and commitment to winning I lose patience, and he is creeping into that bracket.

Nothing worse than a waste of talent!

by **Fauxy** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:46 pm

Ive had just about enough of Babel, Rafa is a generous man giving him so much time.

He showed us that he can actually take players on in the friendly game Holland V England. That was one of the very few games ive actually seen him show any real commitment and it was a friendly!!

I dont think he his a bad guy, but he doesnt have any passion for his game here and I just want to see the back of him.

by **Redman in wales** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 9:58 am

Babel open to Ajax return

Reds winger wants to play regularly to boost Holland hopes

Liverpool winger Ryan Babel admits he may have to consider a loan move to former club Ajax in January to boost his World Cup hopes.

Babel has struggled to make a sustained impact since joining Liverpool from Ajax two years ago and was recently challenged to take his game up a level by manager Rafa Benitez.

The Holland international started the Reds' opening match of this season against Tottenham, but has subsequently made just one late substitute's appearance in the defeat by Aston Villa.

The 22-year-old is unhappy with his limited outings so far this term and believes promises have been broken.

"There have been a lot of things promised, but they haven't been followed up," Babel told De Telegraaf.

"I would get to play for more minutes and have more chances, but after the first defeat, I only lost my place."

A return to Ajax has been mooted and Babel believes a temporary deal in the January transfer window could provide his best chance of securing a place in Holland's squad for next summer's World Cup.

He added: "I think half a season at Ajax with a view to the World Cup wouldn't be a bad idea. I can add something to the Ajax squad.

"Loaning me out was not an option (in the summer). Now we have agreed to review the situation in January.

"I see the current situation as a signal that I really have to get playing."

Sky Sports

by **bigmick** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:05 am

We've arguably not played him in his best position very often, but he doesn't do himself an awful lot of favours this lad it has to be said. If he's had a chat with the manager and they've agreed to review the loan situation in January, why come out in the press at the begining of September to talk about it? Why not just get your nut down and try and make a bit oif an impact, after all he's been at the club two seasons altrady and i can't see that another couple of months is going to kill him.

FWIW I'd actually give him a bit of a shot alongside Torres once we move Gerrard back into midfield, but it has to be said that that is DESPITE the way he has played for the last eighteen months, certainly not because of it. He was absolutely garbage when he came on as sub against Villa, passionless and clueless in equal measure. It is begining to look like 11 million quid plus a fair whack in wages no doubt down the Swanee I'm afraid.

by **tubby** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:08 am

bigmick wrote:We've arguably not played him in his best position very often, but he doesn't do himself an awful lot of favours this lad it has to be said. If he's had a chat with the manager and they've agreed to review the loan situation in January, why come out in the press at the begining of September to talk about it? Why not just get your nut down and try and make a bit oif an impact, after all he's been at the club two seasons altrady and i can't see that another couple of months is going to kill him.

FWIW I'd actually give him a bit of a shot alongside Torres once we move Gerrard back into midfield, but it has to be said that that is DESPITE the way he has played for the last eighteen months, certainly not because of it. He was absolutely garbage when he came on as sub against Villa, passionless and clueless in equal measure. It is begining to look like 11 million quid plus a fair whack in wages no doubt down the Swanee I'm afraid.

Wasnt there some stat Saint or someone brought up some time ago that showed he in fact didn't score more goals when being played upfront? That is if you consider his best position as a striker.

Anyway as you say though there is no use in him opening his gob now.

by **DrPepe** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:09 am

bigmick wrote:We've arguably not played him in his best position very often, but he doesn't do himself an awful lot of favours this lad it has to be said. If he's had a chat with the manager and they've agreed to review the loan situation in January, why come out in the press at the begining of September to talk about it? Why not just get your nut down and try and make a bit oif an impact, after all he's been at the club two seasons altrady and i can't see that another couple of months is going to kill him.

FWIW I'd actually give him a bit of a shot alongside Torres once we move Gerrard back into midfield, but it has to be said that that is DESPITE the way he has played for the last eighteen months, certainly not because of it. He was absolutely garbage when he came on as sub against Villa, passionless and clueless in equal measure. It is begining to look like 11 million quid plus a fair whack in wages no doubt down the Swanee I'm afraid.

If we were ticking over like a well-oiled machine a tthe moment, it would be relatively easy to drop babel into the mix up front

the problem is that we're seemingly not in a position to experiment or to carry players whilst they get used to their new role - epsecially those that have consistently failed like ryan... :down:

and what are the odds on gerrard dropping into CM from now on? :oh:

by **bigmick** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:29 am

DrPepe wrote:and what are the odds on gerrard dropping into CM from now on?

Well I would hope the odds of Gerrard replacing Lucas in the centre of midfield are fairly short bordering on miniscule to be honest. He did more in half an hour there against Bolton than Lucas has done in four matches (in fairness to the Brazillian you would hardly expect any different) and while Gerrard/Torres is a very good partnership, if they are starved of the football there is little point persisting with it.

The danger for me is that we stick with Lucas over the next couple of games, (which we will probably win in any case) only to discover when we have to play somebody decent that we are once again caught between a rock and a hard place.

One of Rafa's attributes/faults is his stubborness, and my worry is that with the clamour for him to address the situation, he'll leave things as they are rather than accept the overwhelmingly (IMHO anyway) obvious solution.

We've given it a good go, it's time to do what we arguably should have done in the first game of the season. we must play our strongest team which is currently available. Some positions will no doubt provoke debate, but central midfield isn't one of them. Gerrard must play there, it's as simple as that really.

by **DrPepe** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:13 am

bigmick wrote:We've given it a good go, it's time to do what we arguably should have done in the first game of the season. we must play our strongest team which is currently available. Some positions will no doubt provoke debate, but central midfield isn't one of them. Gerrard must play there, it's as simple as that really.

that's settled then , cheers mick :laugh:

i think the debate is healthy and will continue - i'm sure there's more tha na few who have suggested we continue with lucas and/or mascher in the middle

by **heimdall** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:20 am

DrPepe wrote:
bigmick wrote:We've given it a good go, it's time to do what we arguably should have done in the first game of the season. we must play our strongest team which is currently available. Some positions will no doubt provoke debate, but central midfield isn't one of them. Gerrard must play there, it's as simple as that really.

that's settled then , cheers mick

i think the debate is healthy and will continue - i'm sure there's more tha na few who have suggested we continue with lucas and/or mascher in the middle

Possibly, but has anybody checked whether they have escaped from an asylum?

by **bigmick** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:25 am

As I've said a few times Doc, from my perspective I don't really mind who makes way for Gerrard in there. For me I'd drop Lucas simply because although he's currently underperforming, Masherano is a better player. In terms of "debate" though, I've no doubt it will go on, but whether it's "healthy" or not is a moot point. Those who advocate leaving Lucas in there are almost exlusively in the "support the team/be a real fan/he's been no worse than anyone else" camp. I haven't seen too much from that side which is actual football stuff which would make anyone disbelieve what their eyes are telling them. Sabre's point about the fact that he's played there before in place of Alonso and we've won matches is just about the most convincing arguement I've seen.

The reason I'm saying "it's as simple as that really" is because I absolutely believe it is. Other than the fact that it would involve breaking up the Gerrard/Torres axis temporarily, I cannot think of a single reason which would possibly stop us from making the change. Nobody else can either or so it seems, so lets just get on with it and start winning some football matches.

by **Sabre** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:36 am

"There have been a lot of things promised, but they haven't been followed up," Babel told De Telegraaf.

By the looks of it, it seems we owe something to Babel, and not the other way around.

by **redbeergoggles** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:11 pm

Sabre wrote:
"There have been a lot of things promised, but they haven't been followed up," Babel told De Telegraaf.

By the looks of it, it seems we owe something to Babel, and not the other way around.

I dont recollect any player other than Kluivert with a worse overall attitude ,the sooner we can rid ourselves of this stench the better for all concerned ...

by **Bad Bob** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 1:32 pm

Redman in wales wrote:Babel open to Ajax return

Reds winger wants to play regularly to boost Holland hopes

Liverpool winger Ryan Babel admits he may have to consider a loan move to former club Ajax in January to boost his World Cup hopes.

Babel has struggled to make a sustained impact since joining Liverpool from Ajax two years ago and was recently challenged to take his game up a level by manager Rafa Benitez.

The Holland international started the Reds' opening match of this season against Tottenham, but has subsequently made just one late substitute's appearance in the defeat by Aston Villa.

The 22-year-old is unhappy with his limited outings so far this term and believes promises have been broken.

"There have been a lot of things promised, but they haven't been followed up," Babel told De Telegraaf.

"I would get to play for more minutes and have more chances, but after the first defeat, I only lost my place."

A return to Ajax has been mooted and Babel believes a temporary deal in the January transfer window could provide his best chance of securing a place in Holland's squad for next summer's World Cup.

He added: "I think half a season at Ajax with a view to the World Cup wouldn't be a bad idea. I can add something to the Ajax squad.

"Loaning me out was not an option (in the summer). Now we have agreed to review the situation in January.

"I see the current situation as a signal that I really have to get playing."

Sky Sports

On yer bike ya twonk. :no

by **bunglemark2** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 1:33 pm

What about Babel in the gap btw. the midfield and Torres ? Gerrard back in the centre of the pitch, Lucas on the bench (at the seaside in Southport !!).....
Perhaps that might be the "opportunity" Rafa is talking about i.e. his final chance to actually make a name for himself. At least until Aquilani is back, or better still, back AND performing to the level he was signed for...

by **stmichael** » Wed Sep 02, 2009 1:34 pm

If I was the manager I'd be playing him in the reserves every now and again. As far as I'm aware, he's never played a reserve game for us. At least that way he'd stay sharp and get some goals and confidence under his belt.

As for the article above, if that's his real ambition then good riddance.

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